Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 16, 1994 TAG: 9402170256
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RENEE SHAFER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Magic Eye," a book of 3-D computer-generated images by N.E. Thing Enterprises, comes with instructions that explain how and when to enjoy the pictures.
"The best time to see them is just after you wake up, or after a couple beers," said Andy Paraskevas, a 3-D artist at N.E. Thing. "The biggest mistake people make is that they get hung up on looking at the patterns. They think the pattern creates the image."
"Magic Eye" advises readers to look through the patterns not at them. Finding the actual 3-D images means learning a sometimes difficult and frustrating technique called "deep seeing."
If you're patient, a patterned green field with mountains in the distance and a white picket fence in the foreground reveals a 3-D image of a horse standing near trees. Another pattern hides a man on a motorcycle, or dolphins swimming in a lagoon.
"The key element is discovery. The eureka affect," said Tom Baccei about the popularity of this art form. Baccei, president of N.E. Thing and the creator of "Magic Eye," explained that there is an added dimension of ego because not everybody can see the images.
"It doesn't work," proclaimed Brian Stuart, a student at Roanoke College, as he stared at the book. "It annoyes me because everyone else can get it, and I can't. I just wonder what part of my brain doesn't work."
"I could never see them before," said Rip Campbell, "it was easier after I read the tricks in the book."
When Campbell, also a student at Roanoke College, first picked up "Magic Eye" he had trouble understanding what it was he was looking for. Once he saw the first image, he was able to flip through the book in 10 minutes and explain in detail what 3-D picture lay hidden on every page.
According to Baccei, 5 percent of people with normal vision do not have the depth perception ability to see the images. But for most, depth perception is simply a less dominant ability than color or form perception.
Some people need to stare longer. "They have to stay dreamy, patient and not worry about it until they see it," Baccei said. "It took my mother four minutes to see the images. It took my father six weeks."
The book warns that it may take several tries before the images appear. To some the process is frustrating, but to others "deep seeing" is relaxing.
"There is a boy in my neighborhood that lost his foot in a lawn mowing accident," Baccei said. "Doctors had been teaching him self-hypnosis to deal with the pain, but instead he carries our postcards around with him because deep seeing helps him relax. He calls it his `pain kit.' "
Helen Crawford, associate professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, specializes in pain control. She says that anything that is interesting, attracts attention and gets a person involved can be relaxing.
"For some people looking at a fish tank or a nice view can have a soothing calming affect." Crawford said. "What the boy did was to focus his attention elsewhere. The pain is no longer important, and he is successfully distracted."
Cognitive psychologists first used these 3-D images in the 1960s to study depth perception. Since then there have been no scientific studies of their use as a relaxation device.
To create these images Baccei begins by sculpting an object with a 3-D animation program. The next step is designing the abstract patterns called starter strips. It is in these strips that the 3-D image is encoded.
The biggest challenge is ensuring that the patterns are smooth and the variations unnoticeable. The final step is decorating the picture, drawing mountains in the background or birds in the sky.
It's no ordinary book, and it's enjoyed extraordinary success. It hit the stands in October and is currently fourth on the New York Times Best Sellers list. It's 33 in USA Today's top 50 best-selling books. And fourth on Waldenbooks bestsellers list nationwide.
The book hasn't been the only big-seller. Lee Burkett, president of Frame'n Things & The Gallery on Brambleton Ave. in Roanoke, started selling 3-D illusion posters last August. Since then he's seen sales skyrocket, especially during the Christmas season, when he sold up to 30 a month. "Which is pretty high for poster sales," Burkett said.
With up to 70 more posters in his inventory, Burkett believes that even if it is a fad, it won't fade any time soon.
Paul Herber, president of NVision Grafix in Texas, producers of 3-D illusion posters and calendars, agrees that the posters are currently riding on a wave of popularity. "We introduced our first poster, the B-2 bomber, in September 1992. Today we export posters to 35 countries worldwide."
Like Baccei, Herber believes that by focusing on the artistic side of their creations, they will be able to sustain and even expand the market for 3-D illusions.
"Our biggest market is the baby boomers, because they can afford it," said Herber, 28. "But it appeals to all ages, men and women. Most people by it to have it at parties. It's a conversation piece because people who can see it can teach it to people who can't."
N.E. Thing Enterprises, based in Boston, broke into the market in 1991 when they ran an ad for their catalog in American Airlines magazine.
"People would get off the airplane in Germany after staring at our ad for hours. If they could tell us what they saw, we'd send them a free postcard or something," said Paraskevas. "We couldn't believe the response."
N.E. Thing is currently working on 3-D print ads for Pepsico Inc. "Most advertisers would give anything to get you to look at their ad for a minute. Here we can guarantee that readers will look at it for at least five minutes, give it to their friend or hang it on the wall," said Paraskevas.
The company also has a syndicated 3-D cartoon and 13-inch column that it plans to release across the country within the year.
\ How to see the hidden images:
Hold the page so close to your face that it touches your nose. Let your eyes relax (as they do when you are very tired), and stare vacantly off into space - so that you are observing the image rather than focusing on it.
Then move the page slowly away from your face. Stop at a comfortable reading distance and keep staring through rather than at the design. When the image starts to "come in" continue looking through the page, don't look at it or you'll have to start again.
It may take several tries, but keep trying and stay relaxed. The best time to see the image is in the morning, while you are still relaxed.
by CNB